Water ski cycle



E. A. PAOLONE WATER sx1 CYCLE May 6, 1969 Sheet Filed Jan. 19 1968 III-lly intl! 715.1.

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A A w E. A. PAOLONE WATER 5K1 CYCLE May 6, 1969 Sheet Filed Jan. 19 1968 snm.

E. A. PAOLONE WATER sx1 CYCLE May 6, 1969 Filed Janv. 19,

sheet 3 @f3 United States Patent 3,442,246 WATER SKI CYCLE Ernest A. Paolone, 10410 S. Ave.- 0,

Chicago, Ill. 60617 Filed .I an. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,223 Int. Cl. B631 35/72; A63b 35/12; B63h 21/26 U.S. Cl. 11S-70 9 `Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A water ski cycle comprising an elongated runner, an elongated primary tank unit mounted thereabove, auxiliary tank means at the forward end of the runner, elongated secondary tank units mounted at the opposed sidef's of the tank unit, and steering N1:19.Il.ISLLJBiIls.The water ski cycle may be either pulled by a |boat "in selfpropelled by -an outboard motor Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to a vehicle for conveying a person over water, and more particularly to a vehicle that may be optionally towed behind a boat or selfpropelled by an outboard motor.

Summary of the invention The preferred embodiment of water ski cycle of the present invention includes an elongated runner for engagement in water and movement along the top surface thereof, and means, in the form of a primary buoyant l tank unit, mounted above the runner for supporting an operator. An auxiliary tank is provided at the forward end of the runner and secondary tank units are provided along the sides of the primary tank unit for increased vehicle buoyancyv when at rest and vehicle stability when in motion. Thewater ski cycle may be pulled by a conventional powered --'boat, or may be self-propelled by an outboard motorfnounted at the rear end of the runner. The vehicle is provided with independent steering control means which is adapted to be connected either to a rudder when the vehicle is being towed or to the outboard motor when the vehicle is being self-propelled. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description Brief description 0f the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the water ski cycle of the present invention in towed position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of the water ski cycle of the present invention, with an outboard motor mounted at the rear end thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the water ski cycle of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the water ski cycle of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the water ski cycle of FIGURE 2, with the outboard motor removed.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, the water ski cycle of the present invention, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, com-prises runner means in the form of a single longitudinally extending runner 12 with a relatively narrow elongated flat body portion 14 Patented May 6, y1969 ice and with a relatively wide upturned forward end portion 16. Secured along its lower edge to the runner 12 is a vertical longitudinally extending keel panel 18 which may be fabricated of a plywood panel l20 reinforced by longitudinal and vertical metal strap members 22. Mounted along the upper edge of the keel panel 18 Iis longitudinally extending tank means in the form of an elongated primary tank unit 24 which is thereby spaced vertically above and parallel to the body portion 14 of the runner 12. The primary tank unit 24 includes a resilient tank 26 inflated with air and engaged within a rigid cylindrical tube 28. Hoop-like bracket members 30 are disposed about the tube 28 and are secured at their free ends to the keel panel 18 for maintaining the primary tank unit 24 in assembled position.

The water ski cycle 10 also incorporated an auxiliary tank 31 fabricated for example of plastic and mounted on the forward runner portion 16, and a pair of longitudinally extending elongated secondary tank units 32 which are mounted at the opposite sides of the primary tank unit 24. The secondary tank units 32 are spaced laterally outwardly from the primary tan-k unit 24, are inclined downwardly in a rearward direction relative to the body portion 14 of the runner 12, and extend rearwardly be yond the rear end of the runner 12. Each secondary tank unit 32 includesv a resilient tank 34 inflated with air and engaged within a rigid cylindrical tube 36. -l-Ioop-like bracket members 38 are disposed about the tubes 36 and are secured at their free ends to lateral adjustable support arms 39 which are mounted to the opposite sides of the keel panel 18 for supporting the secondary tank units 32 therefrom. V

The water ski cycle includes a vertical rudder 40 which is secured to a spindle 42 projecting vertically through and rotatably mounted in the runner 12 adjacent the rear end thereof. Secured to the upper end of the spindle 42 is a cross bar 44 to which steering control means is'adapted to be connected as will'ibe described hereinafter. Projecting vertically downwardly from the runner 12 immediately forwardly of the rudder 40 is a stabilizer 45. Alsomounted at the rear e'ndy of the keel panel 18 is a transverse generally rectangular motor mounting block 46. A conventional outboard motor 48 is adapted to be mounted at the rear end of the water ski cycle 10, with the clamp brackets 50 of the motor engaged over the top portion of the motor mount 46. The outboard motor 48, in a conventional manner, is free to swivel relative to the clamp brackets 50 and the motor mount 46, and includes a horizontal generally U-shaped steering bracket 52 and a speed controller arm 54.

hA steering control means of the water ski cycle v10 includes a manually '"'operable' steering control mili `wlilh, for example, may be 1n the form of a bicycle` liidle 56 with a depending shaft member 58. The shaft member 58 is rotatably mounted in a steering column tube 60 carried by a strap 62 having divergent arms secured to the bracket member 30 adjacent the forward end of the primary tank unit 24. Secured to the lower end ofthe shaft member 58 is a cross arm 64. A pair of cables 66, which constitute steering linkage means, are connected at their forward ends, by means of eye-bolts 68, to the opposite ends of the cross arm 64. The cables 66 extend rearwardly through guide tubes 70 secured to the sides of the primary tank unit 24 and rotatable tube extensions 72. The cables 66 are provided at their rear ends with snap connectors 74 and near their rear ends with snap connectors 76. The snap connectors 74 are adapted to be releasably connected to eye-bolts 78 carried by a bar 80 secured to the steering bracket 52 of the outboard motor 48, while the snap connectors 76 are adapted to be releasably connected to eye-bolts 82 carried at the ends of the cross bar 44 associated with the rudder 40.

Mounted on top of the primary tank unit 24 is an operators seat 84, and mounted along the sides of the keel panel 18 are rearwardly downwardly inclined foot boards 86. A speed control lever in the form of a foot pedal 88A ris arranged above one of the foot boards 86 adjacent tlie forward end f the primary tank unit 24. The foot pedal 88, adjacent its rear end, is pivotally mounted at 90 relative to the foot board 86, and, at its forward end, is pivotally connected at 92 to one arm of a bell crank 94 pivotally mounted at 96 to the side of the keel panel 18. The other arm of the bell crank 94 is pivotally connected at 98 to rearwardly extending linkage means 100 which includes a cable 102 carrying at its rear end a snap connector 104 adapted to be releasably connected to the speed controller 54. A conventional gas tank 106 is supported on a platform 108 mounted by frame means 110 on the keel panel 18.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the water ski cycle may be pulled or towed through water by means of a tow rope 112 extending rearwardly from a powered boat (not shown) and connected to a tie-bolt 114 secured in the forward end portion 16 of the runner 12. When used in this manner, an outboard motor is not required, the tube extension 72 are rotated from the dash line positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 5 to the dot-dash line positions, and the snap connectors 76 are connected to the rudder eyebolts 82. Turning of the bicycle handle 56 by an operator seated on the seat 84 serves to effect, through the cables 66, pivotal movement of the rudder 40, whereby the water ski cycle 10 may be steered independently of the pulling boat within the limitations imposed by the tow rope 112.

Optionally, the water ski cycle 10 may be self-propelled by disconnecting the tow rope 112 and mounting in position the outboard motor 48 as previously described. When used in this manner, the snap connectors 76 are disconnected from the eye-bolts 82, the tube extensions 72 are rotated from the dot-dash line positions shown in FIG- URES 2 and 5 to the dash line positions, and the snap connectors 74 are connected to the eye-bolts 78 of the motor steering bracket 52. Also, the snap connector 104 of the cable 102 is connected to the motor speed controller 54. While the water ski cycle is being propelled by the outboard motor 48, the bicycle handle 56 may be turned by the operator, and the motor 48 is thereby swiveled for steering. At the same time, manipulation of the foot pedal 88 by the operatorsk foot serves to control, through the linkage means 100, the position of the motor speed controller 54 and hence the speed of the water ski cycle 10.

When the water ski cycle is at rest, the primary tank unit 24, assisted by the auxiliary tank 31 and the secondary tank units 32, serves to buoy upthe vehicle to maintain it afloat. While the vehicle is at rest, the runner body 14 and the keel panel 18 are submerged in the water. As the vehicle is propelled forwardly, either by the tow rope 112 or the motor 48, the runner 12 tends to rise in the water and thereafter moves across the top surface thereof at a slight angle, with the primary tank unit 24 elevated from the water, as shown in FIGURE l. While the vehicle is in motion, the auxiliary tank 31 and the secondary tank units 3'2 serve to stabilize the vehicle.

I claim:

1. A water ski cycle having a single unitary longitudinally extending runner with an elongated flatbody portion and with an upturned forward end portion, and further comprising a primary tank unit spaced vertically above said body portion of said runner, means mounting said primary tank unit on said runner, a pair of longitudinally extending elongated secondary tank units one each mounting means at the rear end of said runner, an outboard motor with a speed controller secured to said motor j mounting means and adapted for swivel movement, a4'

t E manually operable steering control member adjacent ther.

t,gld said rudder.

mounted entirely above said body portion of said runner at. the opposite sides of said primary tank unit, and said secondary tank units being spaced laterally outwardly from said primary tank unit and inclined downwardly in la rearward direction relative to said body portion of said runner and extended rearwardly beyond the rear end of said runner.

2. The water ski cycle of claim 1 including a rudder pivotally mounted below said runner adjacent the rear end thereof, a manually operable steering control member adjacent the forward end of said primary tank unit, and linkage means interconnecting said steering c onrlomlwrnmnbgrm forward end of said primary tank unit, linkage means in-i` terconnecting said steering control member and said out-g board motor, a speed control lever adjacent the forward end` of said primary tank unit, and linkage means interconnecting said speed control lever and said speed con troller of said motor. l

4. The water ski cycle of claim 1 wherein said primary and secondary tank units are each comprised of a resilient inflatable tank engaged within a rigid cylindrical tube.

5. A water ski cycle comprising a single longitudinally extending runner with an elongated flat body portion and with an upturned forward end portion, an elongated primary tank unit spaced vertically above and parallel to said body portion of said runner, a vertical elongated longi tudinally extending keel panel which along its lower edge is secured to said runner and which along its upper edge has secured thereto said primary tank unit, a pair of longitudinally extending elongated secondary tank units one each mounted at the opposite sides of said primary tank unit, said secondary tank units being secured to said keel panel on the opposite sides thereof and spaced laterally outwardly from said primary tank unit and inclined downwardly in a rearward direction relative to said body portion of said runner and extended rearwardly beyond the rear end of said runner, motor mounting means at the rear end of said keel panel for supporting an outboard motor with a speed controller, a speed control lever adjacent the forward end of said primary tank unit,..linkage means connected at one end to said speed control lever and adapted at the other end to be connected to the speed controller of the motor, a rudder pivotally mounted below said runner adjacent the rear end thereof, a manually operable steering control member adjacent the forward end of said primary tank unit, and linkage means connected at one end to said steering control member and. adapted at the other end to be connected either to said rudder or to the outboard motor.

6. The water ski cycle of claim 5 including an auxiliary tank mounted on the'forward runner portion, and a stabilizer projecting vertically downwardly from said runner immediately forwardly of said rudder.

7. A water ski cycle having a single unitary longitudinally extending runner with a relatively narrow elongated flat body portion and with a relatively wide upturned forward end portion, and further comprising means carried by said runer for supporting an operator, a manually operable steering control member adjacent the forward end of said runner, steering means adjacent the rear end of said runner, linkage means interconnecting said steering control member and said steering means, a pair of longitudinally extending elongated tank units one each mounted entirely above said body portion of said. runner at the opposite sides thereof, and said tank units being spaced laterally outwardly of said body portion of said runner and inclined downwardly in a rearward direction relative to said body portion of said runner.

8. The Water ski cycle of claim 74wherein said steering means is a rudder pivotally mounted below said runner.

9. The waterski cycle of claim 7 wherein said steering means is an. outboard motor mounted on said runner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1956 Roby 115-70 X 5 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examinen U.S. C1. X.R. 114-235' 

